[Westheim]

Ben O’Morrissey was added to the playoff roster to replace the fallen Daniel Hall. Fallen, but not forgotten. (sobs)

We knew little about the Wolves roster and had not played against them during the regular season either. They had survived on pitching in the FL West, ranking in the top 5 in all categories but strikeouts (11th). Their offense was a very mixed bag. They didn’t hit for a high average, but doubles and home runs, struck out a lot, and couldn’t run. Raccoons Ballpark was going to suit them rather well.

They had SP Evan Dawson, RF Dale Cleveland and another outfielder on the DL, but Cleveland probably hurt the most. Their 4-man rotation for the World Series consisted of four 13+ games winners, including Alejandro Venegas. Their bullpen was rather average.

They had five double-digit dinger hitters on the roster, but none had hit more than 13. Also, nobody on their team had hit more than .290. Outfielders Ennio Sabre (.284, 13 HR, 71 RBI), Pancho Pacheco (.281, 12 HR, 61 RBI) and infielder Phil Burnett (.285, 10 HR, 63 RBI) were their most potent batters, one each of the righty, switchy, and lefty populations.

Overall, despite lacking the outfield Daniels and reliever Albert Matthews, the Raccoons had a very good chance here, better than against the Stars six years ago.

So it goes, the Oregon Title Brawl.

1989 WORLD SERIES
Portland Raccoons (95-67) vs. Salem Wolves (88-74)

Game 1 – Kisho Saito (17-5, 2.72 ERA) vs. Jon Robinson (16-12, 2.72 ERA)

Jason Turner was red hot, but the only way to have him pitch twice in the series, if necessary, was to assign him the game 3 start in Salem, and then game 7, like in the CLCS. This meant that Saito and Berry had to start the first two games at home. Wade would be pushed to game 4. Neither Berry nor Wade had sparkled in the CLCS, but Berry was in any case much better rested than Wade. Saito was designated to start the series to have him available for game 5.

The difference between Saito’s and Robinson’s records clearly showed the better offense the Raccoons staff had enjoyed this year, although it hadn’t showed that much in the CLCS.

The Wolves threatened first, with two walks to start the top 2nd, but Saito got back into the groove, struck out the next batter and Quinn and Johnston made nice plays to end the inning on either wing. In the bottom 2nd, Osanai hit a leadoff double, went to third on a groundout and scored on Higgins’ sac fly. 1-0, we are in business.

The Wolves tied the game in the fourth after a leadoff single by Sean Bergeron and an RBI triple hit by Brendon Bailey just past Glenn Johnston in left field. Bailey was however stranded at third base and Saito held on to the tie.

After Saito hit a 2-out double in the bottom 5th, but was left on by Antonio Gonzalez, the Wolves came back in the sixth. A pitch by Saito grazed Ennio Sabre’s uniform and he was on. Bergeron singled just a tad past Gonzalez, two on, nobody out. Sabre was moved to third on a fly out, and then scored on a sac fly, which only was turned into that by a great play by Neil Reece. It had left the bat as a double. Reece however had twisted awkwardly and was forced to leave the game with back pain. Saito came apart now and the Wolves scored another run to lead 3-1.

The Raccoons couldn’t solve the puzzle that was Jon Robinson. They got two on in the bottom 7th, but Reader grounded out in the pitcher’s spot to end that inning. In turn, Cordero struck out two right-handers in the eighth, only to fall to lefty Phil Burnett’s solo homer.

The Raccoons got one man on in both of the last two innings, but never got them past first base.

4-1 Wolves, who lead the series 1-0. Reece 1-2; Osanai 2-4, 2B;

1989 WORLD SERIES
Portland Raccoons (95-67) vs. Salem Wolves (88-74)

Game 2 – Steven Berry (9-8, 3.01 ERA) vs. Terry Murphy (18-13, 3.58 ERA)

Neil Reece was not seriously hurt and was able to play in game 2. But another start like Berry’s in game 4 against Atlanta would already be ambitions-killing.

Berry again was unable to get into favorable counts. The first inning went well, but he walked two in the second. With one out in the third, he walked leadoff man Pancho Pacheco on four pitches, and only got out of the inning because of a pop out to Dadswell and because C Les Harper swung at a 2-2 pitch directed at his shoes.

Dadswell had had an infield hit in the bottom 2nd, but with two down the inning quickly ended. Reader, who was in for a struggling Gonzalez, led off with a single in the bottom 3rd. He was held on and couldn’t attempt to steal, so Berry bunted him to second. He moved to third on a groundout by Higgins, and then youngster Reece singled into left to score him. 1-0 Coons.

That was the signal for Berry to break up for good. Top 4th: Sabre singled, Francisco Marino singled. He walked Bergeron, and then hit Burnett. Tied game, bases loaded, nobody out, Berry was sent to the mines. Lagarde came in and got a double play, second and home, and then retired Murphy. 2-1 Wolves.

Lagarde stalled in the top 5th. Two out, two on, Burnett came in, but it took a great play by Dawson to get out of that jam unscathed. Reece walked to start the bottom 6th, but Dawson double-played the Coons out of there quickly.

Bottom 7th: Quinn with a leadoff single off the glove of SS Mauro Morales. Dadswell popped out, and Johnston grounded to second, but Marino botched the play. Two on, one out. Martin pinchhit for Reader to counter the righty Murphy, but grounded into a fielder’s choice at second. Gonzalez pinch hit for Burnett and flew out to center.

They just could not get anything down in the outfield …

Goodman and Martinez held the Wolves where they were in the eighth and ninth, and they brought closer Joshua Bernard again for the bottom 9th, which was led off by Osanai. First pitch, down the middle, knock, and it didn’t go out, but fell into the gap in right for a double. Quinn struck out. Dadswell went to 1-2, before he sent a flyer into the gap in left center field, but Bergeron caught that one. Osanai went to third.

Glenn Johnston had to save the world and Furball Nation. He was batting .152 in the playoffs, half of what he had put up all year. Time to regress towards a .310 mean. First pitch, contact, line drive INTO CENTER, IT FALLS IN!! Johnston tied the game with the back to the wall! O’Morrissey struck out to go to extra innings.

We sent Carlos Reyes for overtime, and wouldn’t turn to Grant West until the bags were full. Both sides left a runner on in the 10th. Top 11th: with one out, Bergeron singled to right. Burnett came up and singled to right as well. Bergeron made for third, but Quinn sent in a hissing liner that beat Bergeron easily and he was out. Burnett went to second, two outs. Morales was up with Bernard behind him. Would they remove him if we put Morales on intentionally? No, Reyes was told to get Morales, who went on to hit an infield single to Osanai. Victor Rodriguez came out to pinch hit now with runners on the corners. He lined hard into left field, but right into Johnston’s glove.

Bottom 11th: Quinn’s 1-out single gave the Coons a chance. He stole second and moved to third when Dadswell flew out. Johnston with two out again – this time he flew out to Sabre. And we went on.

Pacheco hit a leadoff double in the top 12th. Reyes remained in, struck out the next two guys, before we put Sabre on intentionally. He was batting .355 in October and would not get a chance. This put SS Tony Coztana into the batter’s box. He drew a full count walk, and now we called for Grant West, who faced Bergeron. He lined into short right and a run scored.

The Wolves entered the bottom 12th leading 3-2. Stephen Hall led off with a single to right, and Gonzalez walked. And then it stopped clicking, Higgins lined out, and Reece hit into a game-ending double play.

3-2 Wolves, who lead 2-0 now and can end the series at home. Reece 2-5, BB, RBI; Quinn 2-5; S. Hall (PH) 1-1; Burnett 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K; Goodman 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K;